The Montgomery County Council today sent a letter signed by all nine Councilmembers to County Executive Isiah Leggett expressing its surprise to learn that the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) would not accept the Silver Spring Transit Center as contemplated by the Memorandum of Understanding between WMATA and Montgomery County. The Council has asked the Executive to appear before it at 2 p.m. on Wednesday, May 1, to explain the current status of the transit center. [NOTE: The complete text of the letter is pasted below]

On April 1, 2013, Council President Navarro and Transportation, Infrastructure, Energy, and Environment (T&E) Committee Chair Roger Berliner sent you a memo requesting that “you or your staff provide the Council regular briefings on the progress of the Silver Spring Transit Center.” On April 9, 2013, David Dise, the Director of the Department of General Services, briefed the Council on the status of the Transit Center and your plan to remediate the construction defects discovered by KCE.

Yesterday, we were surprised to read in a Washington Post story that WMATA delivered a letter to Mr. Dise on April 12, two weeks ago, stating that WMATA would not accept the Transit Center as contemplated by the Memorandum of Understanding between WMATA and Montgomery County. This was a significant development which warranted prompt notification of the Council.

Please appear before the Council this Wednesday, May 1, at 2 p.m. to explain the current status of the Transit Center.

Additionally, at the April 9 briefing Council President Navarro specifically requested weekly written briefings on the Transit Center from the Executive Branch. We reiterate that request today.

Sincerely,

Nancy Navarro Craig Rice Roger Berliner Phil Andrews

Council President Vice President Chair, T&E Committee District 3 District 4 District 2 District 1